"Don't you understand? Maria won't send Alex back to that day care, and we both have to work tomorrow morning. We need you now."

Kate groaned in frustration. "I cannot just leave."

"Write them a note."

Kate stood in her yard, feeling control slip from her grasp.

"Come on, Kate."

Surrendering to her circumstances, Kate ran to the house. The need was urgent. She would care for Alex until the hearing, and then her testimony could help Maria keep her baby.

Hurriedly, Kate packed her other dress and kapp into her small bag. She hesitated when she caught sight of the jeans and T-shirt at the bottom of her drawer. Should she take the Englisch clothes, just in case? Shaking her head, she stuffed them into her bag. She could bequeath them to Maria on September first.

Sitting at the kitchen table, she wrote two letters-one to her parents and a longer one to Nathaniel.

"Nathaniel, I must go back to Milwaukee for a few weeks. Maria is fighting for her child, and I must help her. I want to tell you everything, all I have felt in the last twenty-four hours, all I feel in my heart for you. Please be patient. I promise to return. And I will return for good."

She had the courage to write her deepest assurances.

"I love you, Nathaniel. I love you forever."

She couldn't bring herself to tell him Jared was dead. That revelation required a face-to-face interview. She could only hope he would see it in his heart to forgive her and still want her for his wife. She buried such notions deep into her heart. How could she bear the thought of anything else?

Kate set her envelopes, along with Maria's address, carefully on the table in plain sight, so that Mamma would see them first thing when she walked through the door.

Carlos leaned against his truck as if he hadn't budged from the spot since his arrival. Kate handed him her bag, and he grinned. "You are the most low-maintenance girl I've ever met." He tossed the bag into the cab of his truck and then put his arm around her. "Did you pack anything in that bag?"

A movement to her right caught Kate's attention. Aaron stood with both hands on his porch railing, scrutinizing Kate and the dark stranger by her side.

"Aaron!" Kate leaped up his porch steps, more eager than she had ever been to talk to her brother. "You are not at church."

"Three boys are sick," he said, not taking his eyes from Carlos.

"Aaron, please listen. I must go back to Milwaukee."

"Who is that man? You should not be alone with him."

Kate turned her head to glance at Carlos. "He is Maria's brother. Aaron, look at me. Maria's boyfriend, Jared, is dead. Tell the family I am sorry to leave like this. Be sure to tell them I am sorry." Unbidden tears fell. "Tell Nathaniel I have made my choice. Aaron, are you listening? Tell him I have made my choice and will be back in four weeks." Her frustration rose as Aaron kept his attention riveted on Carlos. "I left two notes on the table. Please make sure Mamma and Nathaniel get them. I'll be back soon. Please see that they get the notes."

Aaron stroked his beard. "He was hugging you."

"He cannot help himself."

Aaron did not change his expression.

Kate sighed in exasperation. "Please make sure they see my letters."

He persisted in silence, and she slowly marched down the steps and got in the truck. She didn't need to depend on Aaron to deliver the notes. Mamma would see them without his interference.

She kept her eyes glued to her house as Carlos backed down the driveway. The three apple trees in the front yard were already laden with small green fruit. By the time they were ready to pick, she would be home. Home for harvest. A cold, unexpected chill trickled down her spine. Lord willing, home for good.

Chapter Twenty-Six.

Nathaniel guided his buggy up Weavers' lane after gmay. Kate had not been in church today. He hadn't expected to see her. After her ordeal yesterday, she deserved to stay in bed for a full week.

He passed the birdhouse that stood securely on a post on the fence separating Weavers' yard from the lane. He couldn't help smiling. She had accepted his gift. Now he hoped she would accept his heart.

The horse slowed in the gravel. The pace sorely tested Nathaniel's patience. Service had lasted for an eternity, and he shouldn't have to wait one more minute to see her. Something had happened to Kate yesterday afternoon. Her shining countenance amid the commotion of the accident had etched itself in his memory. Whatever had taken place in those few minutes had transformed her.

"After services, I must see you." The light in her face told him it was good news. His heart pumped wildly, unable to restrain his galloping hope. He had driven Mamm and Dat home from church with indecent speed.

Moses had come to fetch Mary last night from the hospital, and Nathaniel had stayed with Elmer until the Weavers came for him early this morning. The taxi brought him home in time to get Dat up for gmay. Nathaniel felt the fatigue clear through to his bones, but mere exhaustion would not have kept him from seeing Kate today. What amount of needed sleep could compare to the elation he knew every time he laid eyes on her?

Finally reaching the end of the lane, he secured the reins and leaped from his seat. He strode purposefully across the yard, reaching the front door in record speed. Not caring who he awoke with his enthusiasm, he knocked loudly enough to rouse the entire household.

"Cum reu," he heard Aaron call.

Opening the door wide, he came face-to-face with Kate's parents and Aaron in the middle of the kitchen. His high spirits crashed to the floor. Tears streamed down Emma's face. Solomon, slumped over like an old man, had his arm around his wife, his mouth twisted into a wretched grimace.

Nathaniel caught his breath. "Is it Elmer?"

Solomon looked at Nathaniel as if seeing him for the first time. "Nae, Elmer is resting. We just brought him home. The doctor said he will be all right."

Kate's parents stared at Nathaniel, and deep sadness reflected in their eyes.

"Sit down, Nathaniel," Emma said, motioning to a chair at the table.

An emptiness rushed into his lungs, and Nathaniel felt as if he were going to be sick. "Has something happened to Kate?"

Emma and Solomon looked to Aaron, who pulled a chair from the table and sat. His parents followed suit.

"Sit, Nathaniel," said Emma. "You need to sit."

Nathaniel slowly pulled a chair from the table, never letting his eyes stray from Aaron's tortured face. Why had he ever believed that Aaron didn't care for his sister?

"A man came for her this morning," Aaron said.

"What man?" Nathaniel stared in confusion at Aaron. "Where did they go?"

"She put her travel bag in his truck, and they drove away."

Nathaniel's mouth went dry. "I don't understand. Who was this man?"

Aaron rested his elbows on the table and laced his fingers together. "I am sorry, Nathaniel. I called to her, chastised her for being alone with an Englischer. But you know how she is. Will she ever listen to my counsel?"

Nathaniel leaned forward. "What did she say?"

Emma sniffed and wiped her nose with her hanky. Solomon grasped her hand and held on like a lifeline.

"I think she did not expect anyone to see her make her escape," Aaron said. "She started to cry, saying 'I'm sorry. Tell everyone I'm sorry.' She kept saying that. She said, 'Tell Nathaniel I have made my choice, and I am going to Milwaukee.'"

Aching for a denial, Nathaniel stared at Aaron in disbelief. Every muscle in his body pulled so taut he thought he might snap. "But are you sure? Why didn't she tell me herself?"

Aaron leaned back and folded his arms. "I suppose she did not have the courage. Or maybe she thought it would be easier for you. That you would not want to shame yourself in front of her."

Nathaniel buried his face in his hands, and when he looked up, the faces around him were a blur of color and line. So, that was it? After all the months of waiting and dreaming, agonizing and hoping, she had left him? He was completely incapable of wrapping his mind around that horrible thought. The Weavers' kitchen tilted violently, and Nathaniel clutched the table for support.

Aaron reached over and patted his arm. "It is better this way. For all of us. Kate's worldly ways shamed our family. Who knows how many young people she influenced with her bad example? It is better she is away. It is better she stay away."

Nathaniel couldn't focus, not even to protest the injustice of Aaron's words. He couldn't form any rational thought but one.

Escape.

I've got to get away from this place.

Not knowing how he was able to stand, he walked to the front door and turned the handle. With pain saturating his very soul, he exploded out of the house, shoved himself into his buggy, and drove far away.

Chapter Twenty-Seven.

"Maria, this fridge is an outrage," Kate said. "How do you survive on a half gallon of milk and a jar of pickles?"

"I've been spending a lot of time at Carlos's apartment. Jared's mother knows where I live. Carlos is a bachelor. We go out for fast food a lot."

Kate clicked her tongue in reprimand. "And what does the baby eat?"

Maria pointed to her chubby son, sitting in his high chair and eating Cheerios from the tray. "Does he look like he's malnourished?"

Grinning, Kate tousled Alex's hair. "He passes my inspection."

Maria spread her arms and squeezed Kate tight. "I'm so glad you're here. I was a nervous wreck without you. Jared's mother has gone to the day care twice to try to take Alex away." Her whole body trembled.

"What do you know about the hearing?" Kate said.

"My lawyer says no judge in the world is going to take a baby away from his mother unless the mother is unfit. That's why I need you to testify."

"Jah, of course."

Maria lifted Alex from his high chair, and she and Kate sat on the sofa in the small space next to the kitchen that passed for a living room.

"I'm frightened," she said, clutching Alex to her heart.

Kate placed a hand on Maria's arm. "Everything will turn out right, Lord willing."

"Be still, and know that I am God."

They sat in silence for a few minutes, Alex wriggling to be set down. Maria loosened her hold on him and let him play with her necklace instead.

"I missed you bad, Kate," she said.

"I missed you too." Kate reached out and stroked Alex's silky cheek. "I can only stay until the hearing is over. I hope you are not disappointed."

"Of course, I want you to stay. Carlos has a major crush on you. But it would be selfish of us to keep you away from where you truly want to be. Go back to Nathaniel and make a dozen babies and bake bread and sew quilts. You'll be in Amish heaven. Who am I to begrudge you your happiness?"

"Thank you," Kate said, her face relaxing into a smile. "I hoped you would understand."

Carlos burst through the front door and spread his arms wide. "Here I am, girls. Now the fun can begin."

"Don't you ever knock?" Maria said, rising and hugging her brother while Alex wriggled between them.

"Don't you ever lock your door?" He took the baby from Maria and tossed him into the air. Alex giggled with glee.

Maria snatched Alex away before Carlos could toss him again. "My son is not your ball."

"So," Carlos said, clapping his hands together and ignoring his sister, "I'm going to take both of you out to dinner."

"I can't afford it," Kate said.

"Me and Maria already discussed it," Carlos said. "You're babysitting for her, so we're supporting you-until you start school and custody is settled."

Maria cleared her throat and glanced at Kate. "Or until you go back to Apple Lake."

Carlos feigned astonishment. "Go back to Apple Lake? Why would you ever want to do that?"

Maria turned her back on her brother and rolled her eyes at Kate. "Don't listen to him," she whispered.

Kate stood and headed for her temporary bedroom. "Before we go, can I use your cell phone to call Nathaniel? I left so suddenly today, and I want to make sure he got my message."

Carlos pulled an imaginary dagger from his belt and stabbed himself in the heart. "Who can think of Nathaniel when Carlos is before you?"

Rolling her eyes again, Maria pointed to her phone sitting on the counter. Kate smiled indulgently at Carlos, took the phone into the bedroom, and closed the door.

Sitting on the bed, she dialed the number to Nathaniel's workshop. The phone rang and rang. Kate swallowed her disappointment. It was Sunday. How could she expect him to be in his shop on Sunday?